If you’ve been involved in a car crash, then you may have a case of whiplash. Whiplash happens when the head is thrown forward and back quickly, straining and damaging the tissues in the neck and shoulders. In most cases, whiplash is relatively mild, but some cases can lead to significant pain and suffering.
Whiplash should be treated as soon as possible following a collision. Delayed treatment can lead to serious health impacts such as pain, dizziness, nausea and headaches. While whiplash is a soft-tissue injury, it has the potential to be debilitating and lead to long-term complications and chronic pain.
How soon will you know if you have whiplash?
Whiplash is one of a few different injuries that could be delayed. That means that you may not notice your neck has become stiff or that you have a serious headache for 24 to 48 hours after a crash. Sometimes, it may be even longer.
According to a study from Neurology, 7.8% of those who suffered whiplash hadn’t been able to return to their normal levels of work or activity within a year following the injury. While it may be uncommon to see people fail to recover, whiplash does have the potential to affect the spine and brainstem in ways that may not be reversible.
Some common long-term symptoms of whiplash include:
- Vertigo
- Degenerative disc disease
- Chronic neck pain and soreness
- Chronic headaches
- Misalignment of the vertebrae
- Long-term mobility issues
If you are involved in a collision and suffer a case of serious whiplash, you may need long-term support. Your attorney can help you seek a fair settlement for what you’ve been through. Find out what steps to take to get compensation for you losses.
